After a very busy May, which included (winning!) the Birding Cup in central PA and then guiding at the Biggest Week in American Birding, I ventured out to central Illinois to help with some bird surveys on two proposed wind facilities. Other than spending a few half-days birding Illinois during cross-country trips, I have never really spent much time in … Read More
One day wonder: Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Illinois!
On Monday, May 12, an email went out to the Illinois birding community that the Bowman brothers (Chris and Mark) had found a Fork-tailed Flycatcher at Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve in Geneva, Illinois (Kane County). The last Fork-tailed Flycatcher seen in Illinois that many people saw was a one day wonder found by Josh Engel at Paul Douglas Forest Preserve (Cook County) … Read More
Deceased Long-tailed Duck undergoes a makeover
This past weekend, my friend Steve Huggins texted me a photo of an adult male Long-tailed Duck he had found off of Lake Michigan near North Avenue Beach. He knows I worked at the Field Museum, and said it was all mine if I wanted to pick it up. The next day (Sunday, March 2nd), my mom and I headed … Read More